Automatic brake for skis

ABSTRACT

An automatic brake for skis has a mounting for securing on the upper surface of the ski, for example by screws. A stirrup comprises a cross-member and two parallel arms disposed respectively one at each end of the cross-member. The stirrup is connected to the mounting by pivot means which permit movement of the stirrup about an axis parallel to the cross-member. Springloading is coupled to the mounting and to the stirrup to urge the stirrup into a first end position in which the parallel arms are normal to the plane of the mounting. The stirrup can be held in another end position, with the arms parallel to the ski, by the user&#39;&#39;s foot.

llnited States Patent [191 Burtoli [54.] AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR SKIS [76] Inventor: Ettore Bortoli, 6, Via Calabria, Thiene, Vicenza, Italy 22 Filed: May 17,1971

21 Appl.No.: 144,150

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 26, 1973 1,191,242 4/1959 France 280/l1.l3 B

Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar Attorney-William Anthony Drucker [5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic brake for skis has a mounting for securing on the'upper surface of the ski, for example by screws. A stirrup comprises a cross-member and two parallel arms disposed respectively one at each end of the cross-member. The stirrup is connected to the mounting by pivot means which permit movement of the stirrup about an axis parallel to the cross-member. Spring-loading is coupled to the mounting and to the stirrup to urge the stirrup into a first end position'in which the parallel arms are normal to the plane of the mounting. The stirrup can be held in another end posi; tion, with the arms parallel to the ski, by the users foot.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBJIIIIZB I975 1 0 2 3,741,575

I PATENTED-JUNZBIBH I 3.741.575

smssr'ahrz //Vl/ENTO/Q [TToRE BORTOL/ AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR SKIS The object of the present invention is to make a stirrup which turns automatically, moving to a position perpendicular to the ski when, for any reason, the skiers shoe is obliged to leave the ski, the result being that it stops the ski almost immediately by reason of the extremity of the stirrup plunging into the snow.

It is well known that skis at present are equipped with safety straps, which help to prevent the ski from falling away and endangering the skier when forsome reason it is obliged to come away from the usual shoe.

However, this arrangement involves a risk that the ski, being dragged by the skier in the process of falling, may strike him on the leg or head, causing quite a serious injury.

On the other hand, by adopting the present invention, the brake stirrup beingfitted to the ski and shaped like a fork, with two arms arranged on the sides of the ski and the connecting cross-piece above the flat surface of the ski, stays in a position parallel to the ski, held by the pressure of the shoe of the skier on the upper surface of the ski.

When the shoe for some reason, e.g., because of a sudden jerk, an incorrect movement or any other reason, has to be detached from the ski, the stirrup, being no longer held by the pressure of the shoe, pivots on its two pins which are fixed on the sides of the ski, with the ends of the lateral arms protruding considerably downwards.

As a result, these ends plunge into the snow, stopping the ski almost instantaneously.

The ski therefore cannot fall, and cannot even follow the skier in his fall, and thisprevents any risk of collision between the ski and the skier with possible resultant damage or blows to the person.

The invention will now be described in more detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings showing one particular form of construction, this being simply by wayof an example which does not exclude other applications.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view from above of the stirrup which is the subject of the invention, fastened to a ski, of which the central section is visible;

FIG. 2 shows the same seen from the side;

FIG. 3shows in perspe'ctivethe central section of the ski, with the stirrup fastened to it, in the release position, I

FIG. 4-shows the detail of the locking tongue of the stirrup, seen in vertical section;

FIG. 5 shows the same detail, seen from above.

The stirrup which is the subject of the invention is substantially U-shaped, with two lateral arms 1 and 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2),-connected to each other-by a rear cross-piece 3. The lateral arms 1 and'2'(FIG. 3) would most advantageously be made of sections of angle iron, and are pivoted, by means of lateral pivots 4, on the sidesSof a sheet steel bridge 6, which in turn is fixed by screws 7 to the ski 8.

Two springs 9 and 10 are fixed correspondingly to each of the lateral arms, and are hooked at one end to the enlarged head of pivot 4, and at the opposite end to a small fixed pin protruding from the arm, in such a way as to help the shoe to rotate, causing arms 1 and 2 to project considerably downwards, when the stirrup is left free, as a result of releasing the superposed shoe.

The lug 11 (FIGS. 4 and 5), secured at 12 by a screw inserted in the upper surface of the ski, serves as a catch for the cross-piece 3 of the stirrup, by entering into a recess 13 in its upper surface, holding it in a position parallel to the plane of the ski, when the ski is not in use. This prevents the stirrup from assuming a position perpendicular to the ski and so stopping the ski from being placed with its lower surface against the other ski of the pair, which would constitute a serious drawback when the skis are carried about.

Obviously, when the skier wants to put on the skis, the lug 11 will have to be moved to a position transversely of the ski, leaving the stirrup free, so that it stays in a horizontal position by reason of the pressure exercised by the shoe.

There are distinct advantages in adopting the stirrup which is the subject of this invention advantages above all in respect of the safety of the skier, as well as the practicability of its use and the simplicity of its construction, which involves keeping down the cost of manufacture.

It will be apparent that the stirrup now described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings may also assume various other forms, while the essential characteristics of the invention remain unaffected, without going outside the scope of the patent as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic brake for skis comprising: a mounting plate fastened to the upper surface of a ski and projecting down along the sides of said ski to pivot means, a stirrup including a cross-member and two parallel arms disposed respectively one at each end of said cross-member, said pivot means interconnecting said mounting plate and said stirrup below the upper surface at the sides of said ski for movement of said stirrup about an axis below the upper ski surface parallel to the cross-member, and spring-loading means coupled to said pivot means on said mounting plate and to said stirrup to urge said stirrup into a'position in which said parallel arms are normal to the plane of the ski and of said mounting.

2. An automatic brake for skis, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said arms is of L-shaped crosssection. A

3. An automatic brake forskis, as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a catch member for mounting movably on the top of the skis in a position to permit its engagement with the cross-member so as to retain the stirrup in a second end position in which the two arms lie parallel to the plane of the mounting and the spring loading means is stretched along the sides of the ski below the upper surface and is held in tension between the pivot and the arms.

* m a: s a: 

1. An automatic brake for skis comprising: a mounting plate fastened to the upper surface of a ski and projecting down along the sides of said ski to pivot means, a stirrup including a cross-member and two parallel arms disposed respectively one at each end of said cross-member, said pivot means interconnecting said mounting plate and said stirrup below the upper surface at the sides of said ski for movement of said stirrup about an axis below the upper ski surface parallel to the cross-member, and spring-loading means coupled to said pivot means on said mounting plate and to said stirrup to urge said stirrup into a position in which said parallel arms are normal to the plane of the ski and of said mounting.
 2. An automatic brake for skis, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said arms is of L-shaped cross-section.
 3. An automatic brake for skis, as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a catch member for mounting movably on the top of the skis in a position to permit its engagement with the cross-member so as to retain the stirrup in a second end position in which the two arms lie parallel to the plane of the mounting and the spring loading means is stretched along the sides of the ski below the upper surface and is held in tension between the pivot and the arms. 